On Point from Long Range
- The Knights are currently ranked second in the nation with a stellar 52.4% three-point percentage.
- Riley Kugel leads the teams with 13 three pointers made this season, which ranks him second in the Big 12 conference.
- Kugel is ranked 15th in the NCAA with an impressive 65% from beyond the arc.
- Carmelo Pacheco is just behind Kugel in the rankings with 11 three pointers (3rd in Big 12) and a 64.7 three-point percentage, good enough for 17th in the nation.
Complete Sweep Against Texas A&M
- UCF took down Texas A&M, 86-74, on Nov. 14 at Reed Arena in College and last season opened up the season against then No. 13/15 earning a 64-61 win inside Addition Financial Arena on Nov. 4, 2024.
- The Knights dug their way out of a 14-point hole in the second quarter, mounting a 15-7 run powered by back-to-back threes from Jordan Burks to pull within striking distance at 61-59 with 7:42 remaining. Burks finished the night with a career-high 21 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, also a career-best for made three-point shots in a single game.
- UCF erased an 11-point deficit with seven minutes to go to come from behind to beat No. 13/15 Texas A&M 64-61 last season in the home opener on Nov. 4, 2024.
- Texas A&M was the third ranked opponent UCF has played on opening night in the program’s D-I history, joining tilts against No. 16 Florida State (11/25/88) and No. 25 Miami (11/19/99). Neither of those resulted in a win.
- Last year’s ranked victory was the 11th in program history and the ninth under head coach Johnny Dawkins’.
Milestone Watch
- Riley Kugel played his 100th career game against Vanderbilt, recording 25 points and hitting four three-pointers.
- Kugel’s career points total is now at 998, putting him 2 points away from the coveted 1,000 career points milestone.
Dominant Team Victory vs. Florida A&M
- The Knights shined in the first half, as 12 different players scored a bucket. This marks the most players to record a bucket in a game since playing Kansas State Jan. 6, 2024.
- UCF’s 24 team assists is the most in a game since recording 23 assists vs. Bethune-Cookman Dec. 29, 2023.
- The Black and Gold were lighting it up from beyond the arc, knocking down 13 three-pointers and shooting 65% from downtown. This marks UCF’s best shooting percentage from three with 20-plus attempts in a game since shooting 60% vs. Michigan Dec. 30, 2021.
- The fronds were in full effect in the in-state battle, as Florida A&M shot 12-22 from the charity stripe. Florida A&M’s 55% from the free throw line is the lowest by a team in Addition Financial Arena since Houston’s 50% Mar. 6, 2024.
Opening Knight Win Over Hofstra
- UCF opened the 2025-26 campaign with an 82-78 win over Hofstra on November 3rd.
- The win gives head coach Johnny Dawkins a 9-1 record in home openers with the Knights.
- Themus Fulks orchestrated the offense throughout the night, dishing out a team-high eight assists and adding 16 points of his own. He also proved to be a rock at the free-throw line, knocking down 10 of his 12 attempts.
- Jordan Burks recorded a career-high performance with 17 points and came up with a crucial block and an offensive rebound in the closing second to help lead the team.
- Riley Kugel finished with 19 points and three assists, his offensive fire helped to set the tone for the night earning a career-high five three’s made.
Setting the Stage
- In the Knights’ season opener against Hofstra, 10 new Knights stepped on the hardwood in Addition Financial Arena for the first time donning the Black and Gold
- Three Knights delivered career-best performances in the win. Orlando native Riley Kugel sparked the offense early, knocking down a career-high five three-pointers in the first half. Jordan Burks added a career-best 17 points and led the team with seven rebounds, while John Bol chipped in a personal-best seven points to round out the strong individual efforts.
Dawkins' Homecoming in Durham
- For the first time in UCF program history, the Knights played in Cameron Indoor against Duke in an exhibition game on Oct. 21.
- The exhibition was part of Duke men’s basketball series called the “Brotherhood Run”, a tradition in which Duke invites former players who are now collegiate head coaches back to Durham for a matchup.
- Prior to the game, Coach Dawkins was honored at half court by Duke head coach Jon Scheyer and former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, they handed him a commemorative basketball.
- Head Coach Johnny Dawkins returned to his alma mater, where he was a two-time consensus All-American and was enshrined in the Duke Hall of Fame in September 1996, when his No. 24 jersey was retired.
- Dawkins stepped back onto the hardwood at Cameron for the first time since 2008, when he was an associate head coach at Duke.
- The last matchup between the two teams took place on March 24, 2019, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina, where the Blue Devils advanced following a narrow 77-76 victory.
- Dawkins played at Duke for Coach Mike Krzyzewski from 1982-86. He is regarded as a key early figure in the program’s ascent to becoming a national power. Dawkins and company began to build the foundation for Duke basketball after a sub-.500 freshman season. The Blue Devils finished 24-10 the following campaign, sparking back-to-back NCAA Tournament Second Round appearances. His senior season culminated with a 37-3 record and a National Championship game appearance.
- Throughout his time at Duke, Dawkins piled up 2,556 points, a mark that stood as the school’s scoring record until 2006 and remains second all-time. He was a two-time consensus All-American, a four-time All-ACC selection, four-time team MVP, and was the recipient of the 1986 Naismith National Player of the Year award.